does our government give more financial aid to Old World countries or to

[Boriquen55]

nations in the Americas?
I may be wrong, but shouldn`t we help our neighbor nations a lot more than the nations in Asia, Middle-East, Africa. Sometimes I feel that if our government and corporations helped the nations here in the New World there would be less ilegal aliens in the US. I believe most of our aid goes to far flung nations in the Old World, and not much is done for so many countries in the Caribbean, Latin and South America. What do y`all think about this issue? I expect a lot of good answers and comments, please let`s keep it civil, OK.

[crabby_blindguy3]

On paper, the greatest amount goes to old world countries. Africa (all nations) gets about $4 billion.

However, for the last 20 years these figures don't mean much In 1987 Reagan issued an executiveorder (#10592, if you want to look it up).

Until then, foreign aid ws provided primarily in the form of contracts. Most of these were won by businesses in the receiving countries, and the money and materials went to jump-starting economic growth, stimulating new business, etc.

A lot went to American companies--if they could provide the goods or services cost-effectively. But they had to compete on the open market.

Under the "neoconservitve" regie, starting with Reagan's order, the free market was taken out of the equation. The order directed the State Department and other agencies to award contracts to American companies, regardless of whether they were the best provider.

Now, the "foreign aid" is really little more than a pork barrel for corporate friends of the Republicans. Very little actually goes to help the people it is suposed to help.

You will also note that the countries that had reached an economic "take-off" point prior to 1987 are doing very well: South Korea, Taiwan, Costa Rica are three exampes. The remainder, many of whom were making good progress, but still needed the help of Foreign aid, are now basket cases since the neoconservatives cut off any real aid ad nullified the free market (examples include Zimbabwe, Ethiopia).

Another example: since 2001, Bush and the GOP raised the aid to Africa from $1.4 to 4 billion. But the actual amount of money (in goods and services) that is going to Africa has DECREASED. Most of that money goes in the pockets of Bush's corporate buddies. And, as previously noted, those companies don't have to compete in a free market.

[Tom W]

This is where the American Taxpayer’s hard earned dollars goes and is rarely contested or protested against.

Written by a teacher in Florida.

This is a subject close to my heart. Do you know that we have adult students at the school where I teach who are not US citizens and who get the PELL grant, which is a federal grant (no pay back required) plus other federal grants to go to school?

One student from the Dominican Republic told me that she didn't want me to find a job for her after she finished my program, because she was getting housing from our housing department and she was getting PELL grant which paid for her total tuition and books, plus money left over.

She was looking into WAIT which gives students a CREDIT CARD for gas to come to school, and into CARIBE which is a special program (check it out - I did) for immigrants and it pays for child care and all sorts of needs while they go to school or training. The one student I just mentioned told me she was not going to be a US Citizen because she plans to return to the Dominican Republic someday and that she
"loves HER country."

I asked her if she felt guilty taking what the US is giving her and then not even bothering to become a citizen and she told me that it doesn't bother her, because that is what the money is there for!

I asked the CARIBE administration about their program and if you ARE a US Citizen, you don't qualify for their program. And all the while, I am working a full day, my son-in-law works more than 60 hours a week, and everyone in my family works and pays for our education.

Written by a good friend in Arizona

If an immigrant is over 65 they can apply for SSI and Medicaid and get more than a woman on Social Security, who worked from 1944 until 2004, only getting $791 per month because she was born in 1924 and there is a 'catch 22.

It is interesting that the federal government provides a single refugee with a monthly allowance of $1,890.00 and each can also obtain an additional $580.00 in social assistance for a total of $2, 470.00/month.

This compares very well to a single pensioner who after contributing to the growth and development of America for 40 to 50 years can only receive a monthly maximum of $1,012.00 in old age pension and guaranteed Income Supplement.

Maybe our pensioners should apply as refugees!

Consider sending this to all your American friends, so we can all be ticked off and maybe get the refugees cut back to $1,012.00 and the pensioners up to $2,470.00 and enjoy some of the money we were forced to submit to the Government over the last 40 or 50 or 60 years.

I have a difficult time understanding where the priorities are. When will the US wake up and understand that American is deep in debt and can not even pay the interest on the loans to fund all the programs, citizens are barley getting by, cost of food has skyrocketed and continues to climb, Health Care and drug cost are unbelievable, fuel costs are crippling this country, and the burden is all on the taxpayers.